Ferentz looking at all angles in coaching search

He did say there’s a high likelihood new hire will be recruiting coordinator

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz will replace another member of his coaching staff. Iowa assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Eric Johnson (on the far left in this picture) watches the action from the sidelines with offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe, quarterback Ricky Stanzi and assistant Erik Campbell. Johnson announced Friday that he was leaving Iowa to open a Culver’s in Nashville, Tenn. Ferentz said Wednesday that he’s not in a hurry to find a replacement. (Gazette file) ¬

IOWA CITY — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz isn’t in a hurry to fill the position that came open on his staff last Friday.

Iowa assistant coach Eric Johnson, a member of Iowa’s staff during Ferentz’s entire 15 seasons as Iowa’s head coach, announced he was leaving the program for a business opportunity outside of football. On his Twitter account Saturday, Johnson said he was moving his family, his wife and two young daughters, to Hendersonville, Tenn., and opening a Culver’s restaurant.

“It’s something that he and his family gave a lot of consideration and thought to,” Ferentz said Wednesday. “I don’t think he rushed into this by any stretch and it’s basically a career decision that he chose to make. We were all surprised a little bit on one hand, but also understand totally.”

So, Iowa’s move with this staff opening?

Johnson had been Iowa’s recruiting coordinator since 2003 and had changed positions he’s coached from tight end to linebackers and finally assistant defensive line.

Ferentz isn’t in a huge hurry. Iowa closes spring practice with the spring game 2 p.m. Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. With the surge in personnel hirings around the Big Ten and nationally, Ferentz said he’s considering the options.

“There’s a high probability he [the new hire] will be the recruiting coordinator, but how that role changes, I think that’s something we all have to discuss and give thought to,” Ferentz said.

In Wednesday’s other piece of news, Ferentz announced that redshirt freshman tight end Jon Wisnieski suffered a knee injury. His status is “month to month.” Ferentz didn’t say whether or not the injury was an ACL. Asked if Wisnieski, a former West Des Moines Dowling prep, was out for the season, Ferentz said, “We’ll see.”

“He’s going to have surgery and we’ll be able to have him ready to go in August,” Ferentz said.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@sourcemedia.net

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